Publisher Description

This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA. Through a series of specially commissioned chapters by leading scholars, it explores the nature of language variation in the United States and its social, historical and political significance. The book is divided into three sections. Part I, American English, explores the history and distinctiveness of American English, and regional and social varieties. Part II, Other Language Varieties, looks at multilingualism and linguistic diversity. Part III, The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA includes chapters on attitudes to language, language and education, Rap and Hip Hop, and adolescent language. It also explores issues such as the Ebonics controversy and the English Only movement. Clear, accessible and broad in its coverage, this book will be welcomed by students across the disciplines of English, Linguistics, Communication, American Studies and Popular Culture, as well as anyone interested more generally in language-related issues.

Author Biography

Edward Finegan is Professor of Linguistics and Law at the University of Southern California. John R. Rickford is Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor of Linguistics, Stanford University, and Director of Stanford University s program in African and Afro-American Studies.

Table of Contents

Part I. American English: 1. American English: its origins and history Richard W. Bailey; 2. The distinctiveness of American English Edward Finegan; 3. Regional American dialects William Kretzschmar; 4. Social varieties of American English Walt Wolfram; 5. African-American vernacular English Lisa Green; 6. The dictionary of American regional English Joan Houston Hall; Part II. Other Language Varieties in the USA: 7. Multilingualism and non-English mother tongues Joshua A Fishman; 8. Creole languages in the United States: forging new identities Patricia Nichols; 9. Native American languages Akira Y. Yamamoto and Ofelia Zepeda; 10. Spanish in the northeast Ana Celia Zentella; 11. Spanish in the southwest Carmen Silva-Corvalán; 12. American sign language Ceil Lucas and Clayton Valli; 13. Asian American voices Thom Huebner and Linda Uyechi; 14. Linguistic diversity and English language acquisition Robert Bayley; Part III. The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA: 15. Language ideology and language prejudice Rosina Lippi-Green; 16. Ebonics and its controversy John Baugh; 17. Language policy and English-only Terrence G. Wiley; 18. Language and Education Lily Wong Fillmore; 19. Adolescent language Penelope Eckert; 20. Slang Connie Eble; 21. Rap and hip hop H. Samy Alim; 22. Language, gender and sexuality Mary Bucholtz; 23. Language and identity in American literature James Peterson; 24. The language of doctors and patients Cynthia Hagstrom; 25. The language of cyberspace Denise E. Murray; 26. Language attitudes to US speech Dennis R. Preston.

Review

'the publishers have rightly decided that a completely new book is in order to illustrate recent findings and new foci of the "21st century". … Finegan provides a useful survey, … and recent atlases, which includes an intelligent use of maps. The chapter interestingly shows that very different methods of data collection and analysis over the years have generally confirmed the findings of the earlier studies.' Anglia

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This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA.

Review Quote

'the publishers have rightly decided that a completely new book is in order to illustrate recent findings and new foci of the "21st century". … Finegan provides a useful survey, … and recent atlases, which includes an intelligent use of maps. The chapter interestingly shows that very different methods of data collection and analysis over the years have generally confirmed the findings of the earlier studies.' Anglia

Promotional "Headline"

This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA.

Description for Bookstore

This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA, exploring the nature of language variation and its social, historical and political significance. It is divided into three sections: Part I, American English; Part II, Other Language Varieties; and Part III, The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA.

Description for Library

This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA, exploring the nature of language variation and its social, historical and political significance. It is divided into three sections: Part I, American English; Part II, Other Language Varieties; and Part III, The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA.

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